Aria’s POV
As Giselle walked away, I watched Denderick sigh and lean against the door, his face lined with frustration. It was a look that I hadn’t seen on him before, and it made me wonder just how much tension there was between him and the woman.
“Who is she?” I asked, unable to keep the curiosity out of my voice.
Denderick ran a hand through his thick blonde hair, glancing at me before replying. “Giselle is the daughter of Alpha Marcus, the head of the Council of Alphas. She came to stay here about a week ago, when… well, when I was struggling to find you and… our son.” His voice trailed off at the mention of Edward.
He paused, his eyes meeting mine briefly before looking away. “She’s here to keep the Council off my back, to make sure I’m… handling things.”
I could hear the weariness in his voice, and it didn’t take long for me to piece together what that meant. “So… she’s like your Luna, then?” I asked quietly, dreading the answer even as the words left my mouth.
Denderick stared at me for a long moment, the silence between us stretching uncomfortably. Finally, he nodded, though the gesture seemed reluctant. “Yes… in a way.”
I felt a sharp pang of jealousy, one that caught me by surprise. So many questions ran through my mind. Had her coronation ceremony taken place yet? Had he consummated the union?
Suddenly, the thought of another woman sharing Denderick’s bed made anger flare up in my chest.
I tried to push it down, giving him a small nod as if I understood, even though my chest felt tight. “I didn’t mean to cause any trouble,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “I was just looking for Edward.”
A shadow of surprise crossed Denderick’s face before he nodded twice. “Right. That makes sense. Well, I took Edward to his nursery. Come, I’ll show you.”
He led me down the hall, and my heart pounded with anticipation. When we reached a door made of heavy oak, Denderick pushed it open, revealing a nursery that was nothing like the ones I’d seen in Alpha Logan’s pack.
The room was warm and rustic, the walls lined with dark wood panels that gleamed in the soft light filtering through small, thick glass windows. A sturdy wooden cot stood in the center with high sides meant to protect my son. Around the room, shelves held wooden toys and simple trinkets, and thick animal pelts lay across the stone floor.
My heart swelled with awe. How much effort had Denderick put into ensuring his son was comfortable? That I was comfortable?
As though reading my mind, Denderick murmured. “I had the nursery set up before you came around.”
As we entered, I spotted Edward in his cot, a maid carefully dressing him in a simple linen tunic. The room was filled with the scent of fresh herbs, and I could see the sheen of water on his skin, evidence of a recent bath. I stood there, waiting, barely able to contain my urge to rush forward and hold him.
The maid finished dressing Edward, then bowed her head and quietly left the room. As soon as the door clicked shut, I hurried to the cot, my arms reaching out for my son. I lifted him, cradling him close, breathing in his sweet, clean scent. Relief washed over me, knowing he was safe and cared for.
Denderick turned to leave, but I called out, “Wait.”
He stopped and looked back at me. “Yes?”
“Thank you,” I whispered. “For everything.”
A smile tugged at his lips. “You don’t need to thank me, Aria. It’s my duty.” He paused, then with a teasing glint in his eyes, added, “So… about that little display of jealousy with Giselle earlier?”
I stiffened, feeling a flush of heat rush to my cheeks. “I don’t want to talk about it,” I snapped, my tone harsher than I intended.
Denderick raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback. “Aria, I didn’t mean-”
“I said I don’t want to talk about it,” I repeated, my voice firm. “I just got here, and the last thing I need is to get myself tangled in any more drama.”
He studied me for a moment, his expression shifting from surprise to understanding. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
I looked away, still holding Edward close. “Just… leave it alone, Denderick. Please.”
Dendrick didn’t leave as I expected. Instead, he remained where he was. I could feel his eyes on me, searching and unraveling. It unnerved me, set me on edge, and reminded me of memories I wanted to keep buried.
“Aria,” he urged. “If you’re going to stay in my pack house, we need to know where we stand with each other.”
His words took me by surprise, and I stared at him, not sure I’d heard correctly. “Are you giving me conditions?” I asked in irritation.
Denderick shook his head quickly. “No, Aria, that’s not what I’m saying.” His voice was calm, but there was an undercurrent of urgency in it. “I’m not withdrawing my hospitality from you. I want you to stay here, and I want to take care of you and our son. But I need to know how you feel about me. I can’t… I don’t want to keep guessing.”
His eyes searched mine, and I could see the flicker of hope within them like he was waiting for me to say something that would ease his uncertainty.
But I’d had enough-enough of being at the mercy of men, enough of them trying to mold my life to fit their desires. I’d spent too long being someone else’s pawn. My heart hardened, and I leveled a stony stare at him.
“Denderick, I feel absolutely nothing for you.”
The words hung in the air between us, heavy and final. His face fell, the hope in his eyes extinguished like a dying flame. He looked away, his shoulders slumping slightly as he absorbed the blow.
It was a lie, I wanted to blurt out. Everything I’d just said was a lie, only meant to protect myself. But it was too little, too late.
“Understood,” he murmured. He turned to leave again, this time without any further words, leaving me standing there with Edward in my arms.